Case, particularly a machine tool case

ABSTRACT

A box, in particular a box for power tools, having a housing ( 10 ) that has a storage space for transporting and/or storing a power tool ( 20 ), in particular a hand power tool, that is capable of driving an insert tool ( 22 ).  
     A support structure ( 16 ) designed for changing the insert tool ( 22 ) is provided.

PRIOR ART

The present invention is based on a box, in particular a box for power tools, according to the preamble to claim 1.

It is known to use boxes for transporting and/or storing power tools and their accessories. Usually, ribs or walls serve to hold the power tool and accessories and fix them in place in the box bottom and the box lid holds them down in the appropriate position and protects them from damage.

A box with a housing made of plastic is known from German patent disclosure DE 84 27 020 U1 and has a housing part with a storage space for transporting and/or storing various hand power tools. The housing part has space-dividing elements and support elements formed onto it in the form of intermediary pieces that protrude into the storage space.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on a box, in particular a box for power tools, having a housing that has a storage space for transporting and/or storing a power tool, in particular hand power tool, that is capable of driving an insert tool.

According to the present invention, a support structure designed for changing the insert tool is provided. The support structure can accommodate the power tool at least so that when a power tool is placed therein, it is held in a stable enough fashion to permit an easy changing of its insert tool. Since the support structure need only absorb limited forces so that the power tool can be set down in a stable fashion while its insert tool is being changed, it is sufficient to meet relatively low requirements for strength and stability, allowing the structure to be produced for a correspondingly low price. By installing the support structure in a box lid or in other positions that are otherwise unused, the power tool can be placed in a secure, stable position in order to change its insert tool, whether or not the power tool is provided with a flat support surface. The box can be used as a cradle and as an immobilizing device for the power tool. This additional use offers increased safety and reduces the risk of injury to an operator when changing an insert tool. The support structure can be accommodated in any kind of box and essentially uses previously unused storage space in the box. The support device is integrated into the box and is therefore always carried along with it and is thus also always available. It can be situated inside the housing or also be accessible from outside the box. The support structure can be designed so that the power tool lies essentially flat or so that the power tool lies in an inclined position at an arbitrary angle in relation to a box lid or box bottom. The inclined position also facilitates handling of larger power tools or of insert tools that have been removed during a tool change. The power tool and/or the insert tool can protrude out from box in the process, provided that this makes the insert tool easy to access and easy to change.

If the shape of the support structure is adapted to a contour of the power tool in at least some regions, then this yields a stable support of the power tool. The power tool has at most a very slight amount of play in the support structure and is suitably only embedded in it deep enough to reliably immobilize it during the tool change. An adaptation of the support structure to the contour of the tool can also be comprised of individual support points. The support structure supports the power tool on the support points and immobilizes the power tool to a degree sufficient for a tool change.

Preferably, the housing is comprised of a case manufactured by means of blow molding, in particular a plastic case. It is particularly advantageous to use a blow mold for manufacturing double-walled bodies that constitute the top part and/or bottom part of the box. In this process, a parison is blown out to form an inner wall and an outer wall of a box part with a cavity between the inner wall and outer wall. The inner wall can be shaped independently of the outer wall and, for example, can also constitute an integrated support structure, while the outer wall can be embodied in a smooth form, e.g. as the outside of the box bottom. In addition to the blow mold for manufacturing the support structure, other advantageous manufacturing types are also conceivable such as deep drawing in which, for example, a plastic plate with a contour that corresponds to the support structure is deep drawn and can be advantageously inserted into a conventional box. Another possibility is to injection mold individual ribs onto a box mold, which makes it possible, for example, to obtain individual support points and/or support surfaces. It is also possible for a contour corresponding to the support structure to be foamed in place.

If the support structure has a support rib form that is adapted to a contour of the power tool in at least some regions, then this achieves a stable support of the power tool. The form can be manufactured by means of injection processes such as injection molding or transfer molding. Preferably the housing is also a case manufactured by means of an injection process, in particular a plastic case. The housing and support structure can be produced in a single process step or in succeeding process steps.

If the support structure is let into a housing surface, then it is also possible for this to be accessible on the outside of the box when the box is closed and can offer an additional support function during a tool change.

If the support structure can be partially unfolded, then it is also possible for it to hold a large-format power tool in a stable fashion. In this case, the receiving depth of the support structure can be greater than the depth of the box, the box bottom, or the box lid.

If a transport receptacle is at least a component of the support structure, then it can be arranged in a particularly space-saving manner.

If the support structure is situated in a box lid, then an unused space can be made available without having to change the usual transport brackets for the power tool and its accessories.

If the support structure is embodied as removable, then it can be easily exchanged after long periods of use or removed for cleaning. It can also be removed from the box for a tool change.

If the support structure is embodied as self-supporting, then it can also be removed from the box, which is useful when space is limited. For example, the box lid can be provided with a mat that holds the support structure. It can easily be removed from the box and placed in a suitable location for the tool change.

DRAWINGS

Other advantages ensue from the following description of the drawings. The drawings show an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The drawings, the specification, and the claims contain numerous characterizing features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also suitably consider the characterizing features individually and unite them into other meaningful combinations.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional box for a power tool,

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a box with a support structure in the example of a plane,

FIG. 3 shows a plane in the transport position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The depiction of a conventional box for a power tool 20 in FIG. 1 shows the power tool 20 in the form of a drill with a number of insert tools 22 in a housing 10. Parts that are the same in the different figures are labeled with the same reference numerals. The housing 10 has a box lid 12 and a box bottom 14 in which the power tool 20 is kept for transport. If an insert tool 22 is to be inserted or changed, the support surface on the drill in the position suitable for the tool change is insufficient for it to be safely placed in a stable position on a surface for this procedure.

FIG. 2 shows a support structure 16 for supporting a power tool 20 in a box lid 12. The support structure 16 is embodied as a form, in particular as a blow-molded form, which is adapted to the contour of the power tool 20 and has a cavity between the outer wall and inner wall, which is situated inside a housing 10 and at least partially accommodates the power tool 20, for example a plane with a blade clamp 26 and a planing blade as an insert tool 22. The support structure 16 is designed so that it can absorb the relatively limited forces during a tool change and essentially prevents the power tool 20 from turning or tilting so that the operator can hold, loosen, or tighten screws, corresponding chucks, or holding fixtures that hold the insert tool 22. The support structure can therefore be relatively lightweight in design.

The plane rests with a handle 30 embedded in the support structure 16 so that the tool side 24 with the planing shaft 28 faces upward. In this position, the blade clamp 26 can easily be released with a tool, e.g. an Allen wrench for loosening an Allen screw on the blade clamp 26, without the operator having to manually immobilize the plane. This leaves both hands available for the tool change.

FIG. 3 shows the power tool 20 in the usual transport and storage position in the box bottom 14. The handle 30 of the plane points upward so that the plane can easily be removed for use. The box lid 12 with the support structure 16 can easily be closed over the power tool 20. The support structure 60 is suitably positioned in the box lid 12 so that when the box lid 12 is closed, the power tool 20 protrudes into the cavity of the support structure 16 and is simultaneously held down during transport.

The present invention can preferably be used when changing plane blades and/or belts in planes, when changing saw blades in circular saws, when changing sanding belts in belt sanders, when changing sanding sheets in finishing sanders and eccentric-orbit sanders, and when changing grinding disks in angle grinders.

Even when changing grinding blades, e.g. in corner sanders, it can be helpful to immobilize the power tool, which allows the grinding blade or grinding paper to be more precisely positioned. 

1. A box, in particular a box for power tools, having a housing (10) that has a storage space for transporting and/or storing a power tool (20), in particular a hand power tool, that is capable of driving an insert tool (22), wherein a support structure (16) designed for changing the insert tool (22) is provided.
 2. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure (16) has a foamed form that is at least partially adapted to a contour of the power tool (20).
 3. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure (16) has a supporting rib form that is at least partially adapted to a contour of the power tool (20).
 4. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing (10) is comprised of a case manufactured by means of blow molding.
 5. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing (10) is comprised of a case manufactured by means of an injection process.
 6. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein at least part of the support structure (16) is integral to the housing (10).
 7. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure (16) is partially unfoldable.
 8. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein a transport receptacle (18) is at least partially a component of the support structure (16).
 9. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure (16) is situated in a box lid (12).
 10. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure (16) is embodied as removable.
 11. The box as recited in claim 8, wherein the support structure (16) is embodied as self-supporting. 